I was planning a Saturday this past weekend where I would get lots of things done for a change. My truck decided I wasn?t going to get started as quickly as I wanted. I was going to drive to the recycling center, but the engine wouldn?t turn over. As the saying goes, ?It worked last time I started it.?
After jumping it and letting the truck run for about a half hour and doing some errands around town, I stopped for gas and was going to keep it running. But after checking to see if the battery was charging?and it was?Lowell and I decided to shut it off. That?s when the new battery went in. Glad for CarQuest, where Lowell gets his batteries, and for all of the local businesses who almost always have what I need.
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Prior to the battery problem, our satellite quit working. I should say partially quit working. TV 2 worked but TV 1 had no signal.
The tech named Sam from Herington?who was super, I might add?came out Friday morning after I tried everything else the night before.
He was stumped for a while and then called one of his tech buddies who figured out that Dish had made a change during the night Wednesday that caused the problem.
I also learned that Sam is in a band named Waffle Stomp that plays in the Junction City/Manhattan area. They are on YouTube if you are interested.
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The retail landscape is changing quickly these days with the closing of Quick Flick, Alco and now Heart?land Foods. This creates three big holes in the local economy. But if the past is an indicator, new businesses will fill the void.
While we will miss what we had, our town seems to draw businesses when there is an opening. I can think of several locals who could move to Hillsboro Heights and improve their visibility.
If you own or work in a local business and wish to prepare for what is coming this spring, I recommend highly that you attend the Thinking Outside of the Big Box event Jan. 8 in the Wohlgemuth Center at Tabor College. It starts at 4 p.m. and will end at 7:30 p.m.
Some great speakers will be there, including Marion City Administrator Roger Holter, who has a great deal of experience with the big-box concept and how to be successful in spite of its presence in the marketplace.
Marci Penner of the Kansas Sampler Founda?tion will also be here to give tips on success as well as Tim Smith, a national workplace and management trainer for the past 27 years.
The best part is that it is free to attend. See Page 14 for full details.
Props to Marion County Economic Development director Teresa Huffman for providing most of the funding for this important event.
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Wishing you and yours the merriest of Christ?mases and the happiest of new years.
If you wish to share your comments or ideas, my e-mail address is joel@
hillsborofreepress.com.
